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WE ROCK

ABOUT THE BLACK GIRLS ROCK! AWARDS

The BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Awards were created by Beverly Bond in 2006 to celebrate Black women who are trailblazers, change makers or dynamos in their respective fields.

WE SLAY

BLACK LIVES MATTER

Black Lives Matter grew from a social media hashtag to a worldwide movement. Founders - Alicia Garza, Opal Tometi and Patrisse Cullors created #BlackLivesMatter as a call to action for Black people after the Trayvon Martin case. The movement was a response to racism and a political intervention in a society where Black lives are systematically targeted for demise. The response was an affirmation of Black people’s contribution, humanity and resilience in the face of oppression. Join us in honoring Alicia Garza, Opal Tometi and Patrisse Cullors with the COMMUNITY CHANGE AGENT Award. They ROCK!

WHY OUR HONOREES ROCK!

AMANDLA STENBERG

Amandla Stenberg is an actress, fashionista and social activist. She has been featured in many TV shows such as Hunger Games and Sleep Hollow. She also premiered her latest film, As You Are at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2016. When Amandla is not acting or showing off her latest fashion trends, she is declaring her voice be heard on social media. She speaks about topics on cultural appropriation such as her project video, “Don’t Cash Crop My Cornrows.” Amandla is praised as one of the most powerful voices of her generation. Time Magazine named her one of The 30 Most Influential Teens of 2015. Amandla also raised funds for the national memorial in Washington D.C., honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and gave a special tribute during the memorial’s dedication ceremony. Join us in honoring Amandla Stenberg with the YOUNG, GIFTED, and BLACK Award. She ROCKS!

WHY OUR HONOREES ROCK!

RIHANNA

Rihanna is an eight-time Grammy award-winning singer with 12 billboard music awards. She is a global icon with sold out tours across the world, 13 no. 1 singles on the billboard hot 100, 54 million sold records and 210 million tracks sold worldwide. In addition to her musical achievements, Rihanna is a business woman with several entrepreneurial ventures and philanthropic pursuits. Her sense of style has lead to business deals with top fashion designers and beauty brands such as MAC. All proceeds from Rihanna’s MAC Viva Glam lipstick collection benefit women and children affected by HIV/AIDS. Rihanna also established the Clara Lionel Foundation in 2012, to improve health, education and culture in communities globally. Join us in honoring Rihanna with the ROCK STAR Award. She ROCKS!

WHY OUR HONOREES ROCK!

SHONDA RHIMES

Shonda Rhimes is an award-winning writer, director and producer. She is the first African-American women to create and executive produce a top 10 network series. Shonda is mostly recognized for creating hit TV shows such as Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder. She has received GLAAD Media and NAACP Image Awards for confronting race and sexuality issues in her TV shows. In 2015, Shonda released her book, Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person. Shonda is an inspiration for young girls and women to take charge of their lives and unapologetically be their own person. Join us in honoring Shonda Rhimes with the SHOT CALLER Award. She ROCKS!

WHY OUR HONOREES ROCK!

DANAI GURIRA

Danai Gurira is an actress and playwright, best known for her role as Michonne on The Walking Dead. Danai’s inspiration for writing plays was to tell stories and convey ideas about strong women. She has written several plays such as Familiar, Eclipsed and In The Continuum - which she won an Obie Award, Outer Critics Award and Helen Hayes Award for Best Lead Actress. Danai has appeared in television shows such as Law & Order and Treme. She is also the co-founder of Almasi, an organization dedicated to continuing arts education in Zimbabwe. Dania continues to tell inspirational stories and break barriers in film and television. Join us in honoring Danai Gurira with the STAR POWER Award. She ROCKS!

WHY OUR HONOREES ROCK!

GLADYS KNIGHT

Gladys Knight also known as the “Empress of Soul,” is an award-winning singer, songwriter and actress. Since Gladys was a little girl, she has always had the gift of blessing others with her voice. Gladys has made some of the greatest hit records of all time such as “If I Were Your Woman,” “Neither One of Us Wants to be the First to Say Goodbye,” “Leaving on a Midnight Train to Georgia” and many more. In addition to her musical career, Gladys has acted in the New York Undercover TV series and Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself film. She also joined the Dancing with the Stars cast in 2012. Gladys will continue to use her blessings to uplift and encourage others throughout her lifetime. Join us in honoring Gladys Knight with the LIVING LEGEND Award. She ROCKS!

WHY OUR HONOREES ROCK!

WE LEAD

ABOUT BLACK GIRLS LEAD

The 2017 BLACK GIRLS LEAD (BGL) Conference is a four-day, non-residential, international leadership program for young women of color. The mission of the program is to offer girls ages 13-17 tools and resources to become dynamic leaders, innovators, and public servants. The 2017 BLACK GIRLS LEAD application is now available and must be completed online by Wednesday June 7, 2017. For more information, please visit the BLACK GIRLS LEAD FAQS page.

WE FLOSS

ABOUT THE SHOP

In the words of Michelle Obama, "We rock. We rock! WE ROCK!". You can wear your pride and purchase official BLACK GIRLS ROCK! gear right here. We are currently upgrading the online store, but we will be back soon!

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About Black Girls Rock

BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Inc. is 501(c)3 non-profit youth empowerment and mentoring organization established to promote the arts for young women of color, as well as to encourage dialogue and analysis of the ways women of color are portrayed in the media.